2023 Pittsburgh Steelers. Banged up team loses to Buffalo. Looking ahead to 2024 now (3 Viewers)

[Steelers4Life]

Quite honestly if the Steelers make the playoffs this year, I’ll be downright giddy. I don’t care if we know what the outcome will likely be, nothing beats the excitement of a playoff game.

I can respect that. Id be cheering for them like every other fan.

But even more than another 9 or 10 win regular season with a predictable early playoff exit where a few stars and some luck mask what's preventing the team from contending, I'd rather see them have a really bad season that forces the organization to change an antiquated philosophy and actually address the reasons why the Steelers have become an afterthought for the postseason for over a decade. There's enough talent for them to not be that bad though, so we'll take what we can get I guess.

 

[fred_1_15301]

Quite honestly if the Steelers make the playoffs this year, I’ll be downright giddy. I don’t care if we know what the outcome will likely be, nothing beats the excitement of a playoff game.

I can respect that. Id be cheering for them like every other fan.

But even more than another 9 or 10 win regular season with a predictable early playoff exit where a few stars and some luck mask what's preventing the team from contending, I'd rather see them have a really bad season that forces the organization to change an antiquated philosophy and actually address the reasons why the Steelers have become an afterthought for the postseason for over a decade. There's enough talent for them to not be that bad though, so we'll take what we can get I guess.

I get it but at this point it’s too late for what you’re hoping for. They already have 5 wins. So why not just root for them to make the playoffs?

 

[Steelers4Life]

Quite honestly if the Steelers make the playoffs this year, I’ll be downright giddy. I don’t care if we know what the outcome will likely be, nothing beats the excitement of a playoff game.

I can respect that. Id be cheering for them like every other fan.

But even more than another 9 or 10 win regular season with a predictable early playoff exit where a few stars and some luck mask what's preventing the team from contending, I'd rather see them have a really bad season that forces the organization to change an antiquated philosophy and actually address the reasons why the Steelers have become an afterthought for the postseason for over a decade. There's enough talent for them to not be that bad though, so we'll take what we can get I guess.

I get it but at this point it’s too late for what you’re hoping for. They already have 5 wins. So why not just root for them to make the playoffs?

It's not that I DON'T root for them. I do, always have, always will. But if I could be God for a day and choose how the season would go, I think a bad year would be good for the team long term instead of continuing on the same cycle over and over again because they have moderate regular season success and not enough incentive to make wholesale changes.

 

[McBokonon]

This is pretty much it: https://www.reddit.com/media?url=https://i.redd.it/4wzqwjcfc1tb1.jpg

 

[belljr]

I can't recall ever being this disgusted and underwhelmed about a 5-3 team in my lifetime

 

[Grid71]

I know that there are lots of stats put there like this, but this one struck me as crazy

Adam Schefter
@AdamSchefter
Follow

At 5-3, the Steelers are the 34th team since 1933 – when rushing and receiving stats were first tracked – to be outgained in each of their first eight games of a season; they’re the only one of those who had a winning record, per
@JMcTigue85
. The Steelers are also the only team this season to be outgained in every game, and they’ve been outgained by -790 yards, 2nd worst to only the Broncos (-830).

Good coaching?

"Oh, you have an offense? That's cute. We have a Hulk." - Tomlin's response nodding at Watt

 

[Drunken Cowboy]

Quite honestly if the Steelers make the playoffs this year, I’ll be downright giddy. I don’t care if we know what the outcome will likely be, nothing beats the excitement of a playoff game.

At this point, I won't be excited though. I have no hope that they can make a run in the playoffs. I had more hope even during the terrible years in the late 80's

 

[Grid71]

There is optimism for a very good season. Offense needs to build on this and take another few steps. Wins keep coming with a nearly non-existent offense. Key is Kenny needs to play at NFL speed & the team starts putting up 27 PPG.

 

[5-ish Finkle]

This is pretty much it: https://www.reddit.com/media?url=https://i.redd.it/4wzqwjcfc1tb1.jpg

Its basically this.

I will never truly root against the team...but this particular brand of football, particularly on offense, is just punishing to observe consistently. It's like watching scum freeze on the eyeball of a jackass.

 

[5-ish Finkle]

Quite honestly if the Steelers make the playoffs this year, I’ll be downright giddy. I don’t care if we know what the outcome will likely be, nothing beats the excitement of a playoff game.

At this point, I won't be excited though. I have no hope that they can make a run in the playoffs. I had more hope even during the terrible years in the late 80's

I cant go that far. I remember the Mark Malone/Walter Abercrombie/Daryl Sims days. '85-'89 featured a lot of incredibly bad football.

 

[Godsbrother]

Quite honestly if the Steelers make the playoffs this year, I’ll be downright giddy. I don’t care if we know what the outcome will likely be, nothing beats the excitement of a playoff game.

At this point, I won't be excited though. I have no hope that they can make a run in the playoffs. I had more hope even during the terrible years in the late 80's

I cant go that far. I remember the Mark Malone/Walter Abercrombie/Daryl Sims days. '85-'89 featured a lot of incredibly bad football.

The main theme of those days and even into the Cowher era was lack of a quality quarterback.

it was a long drought between Bradshaw and Roethlisberger. Cowher’s defenses and strong running game with a sprinkling of slightly above average Neal O’Donnell and Kordell Stewart almost got them to a championship but it took an elite QB to win it all.

I haven’t given up totally on Pickett but he will never be elite. He needs to improve a whole lot before he’s even mediocre

So as much of a Steelers optimist as I am I realize there is only so far this team can achieve. For now I am happy to be 5-3 and if we can win another 5-6 games and show improvement as we do it I’ll take it.

 

[sm8680]

Neil O'Donnel was a quality Quarterback. He should have been wearing a Dallas Cowboy Jersey in Super Bowl and the Dallas Cowboys should have given him an honorary Super Bowl ring. I still get a kick out of calling this the Switzer bowl. The following year Larry Brown should have given him a percentage of his bloated salary from the Cardinals as well. O'Donnel made the Pro Bowl. Look at his record. I'd love to have that record again. I'll bet his biggest regret was leaving the Steelers for the Jets were ex-Steelers go to die(Santonio Holmes, Le'Veon Bell and Neil). A big what if had a stayed a Stiller.

Kordell Stewart had glimpses of being a quality quarterback. I think he lost his confidence and Steeler fans were over the top harsh on him at times.

I also thought that Tommy Maddox in 2002 gave Steeler fans a lot of hope. Those next few seasons were rough. But he eventually and deservedly so lost his job to Roethlisberger. But yes, there was a long draught between Bradshaw and Roethlisberger.

 

[5-ish Finkle]

The following year Larry Brown should have given him a percentage of his bloated salary from the Cardinals as well.

Raiders.

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

Saw something about George Pickens unfollowing all steelers on his socials or something.

 

[fred_1_15301]

Saw something about George Pickens unfollowing all steelers on his socials or something.

It’s true. He also posted “free me” and was shown sulking on the bench after Diontae’s go ahead TD. Can you imagine a nobody like Pickens reacting like that after a win? He’s a cancer (maybe worse than AB) and I hope the organization does something about it soon. I don’t care what business you’re in, you can’t have people like that working for you. It will eventually bring the rest of the team down.

 

[Max55]

Steelers get too much credit IMO for being able to draft good wide receivers.

But the Steelers real super power seems to be drafting diva wide receivers - AB, Martavis Bryant, Claypool, with Pickens knocking on the door.

This behavior may be why Pickens slid outside of the 1st round.

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

Maybe we should have just rolled with Dobbs, drafted oLine instead of Pickett, and waited for a real potential franchise qb to become available.

 

[5-ish Finkle]

Maybe we should have just rolled with Dobbs, drafted oLine instead of Pickett, and waited for a real potential franchise qb to become available.

I wanted them to draft Hurts in '20 when Ben was still on the team. But naaah, they just hadda take the one year wonder WR at 49.

Not like Canada would have been able to develop him anyway, I guess.

 

[Black and Gold]

Maybe we should have just rolled with Dobbs, drafted oLine instead of Pickett, and waited for a real potential franchise qb to become available.

I wanted them to draft Hurts in '20 when Ben was still on the team. But naaah, they just hadda take the one year wonder WR at 49.

Not like Canada would have been able to develop him anyway, I guess.

Agreed. I'm still not sure if it's Hurts or the system. But you can say that about a lot of QBs.

 

[Ray_T]

I haven’t given up totally on Pickett but he will never be elite. He needs to improve a whole lot before he’s even mediocre

it is likely too early to tell for sure yet.

he has shown a few flashes. I dont know that he will be elite either. but there is a chance he could be an above avg QB who can manage a game well once he gets some experience.

hes still on the learning curve. I see him doing some things that he couldnt do late last year or early this year. so even if the numbers are not showing it, I see progression and thats something you want.

Brady in his first couple years was very much like this and then finally it all came together for him. Ditto for Drew Brees. first year or so was rough but the key is that he was continuously showing improvement. As long as that continues to be the case, there is hope.

FYI I am not a steelers fan so no rose colored glasses here. Just facts and my own observations.

 

[5-ish Finkle]

Maybe we should have just rolled with Dobbs, drafted oLine instead of Pickett, and waited for a real potential franchise qb to become available.

I wanted them to draft Hurts in '20 when Ben was still on the team. But naaah, they just hadda take the one year wonder WR at 49.

Not like Canada would have been able to develop him anyway, I guess.

Agreed. I'm still not sure if it's Hurts or the system. But you can say that about a lot of QBs.

I think the answer to the bolded can be "potentially, it's both." Hurts has a certain set of skills, and the staff in Philadelphia has catered to them instead of attempting to completely make him into something he isn't.

My "shine" for Hurts started/stopped, basically, because all he did was win at the NCAA level (well, that and it had become clear that the NFL has moved to a rule system that favors offense heavily, and mobile quarterbacks in particular). Game never seemed "too big" for him. Physical gifts and statistics aside, that was the first major bullet point on my list when watching him play in college. Played at two major football factory schools, produced at both, with teammates looking to him as a leader (even when benched in Tuscaloosa, reportedly) at both. Yeah, he doesn't have prototypical size, but I didn't (and still don't) care. Guy was/is a baller.

I can't recall ever watching a single game of Pickett's college career were I thought "Now, there's a dude who will get guys to go after it for him." He was a bland, provincial selection that the Steelers "forced themselves into" by waiting until Ben was out the door before they bothered to look for a true potential replacement. That's 100% on Rooney and his nonsensical/romantic notion that passing on Pickett would be like "passing on Dan Marino again." Kenny may still wind up an okay-ish pro. That will probably be about it.

/descends soapbox

I'll stop bitching about not having Philly's quarterback in the Steelers thread now.

 

[Steeler]

In hindsight they should have kept Dobbs, drafter Creed Humphrey instead of Pickett, and continue to build the rest of the team until they could draft/sign a legit QB. Recent Super Bowl winners loosely followed this approach: DEN won by signing P. Manning, LAR won by trading for M. Stafford, SEA won by drafting R. Wilson. These scenarios are not exactly like the Steelers had last year when they drafted Pickett, but close enough to try that approach rather than burning that first on him.

Hope I'm wrong, but it's difficult to improve accuracy and pocket awareness over time... seems like those are traits a QB either has or doesn't have... and Kenny doesn't have them.

 

[Godsbrother]

In hindsight they should have kept Dobbs, drafter Creed Humphrey instead of Pickett, and continue to build the rest of the team until they could draft/sign a legit QB.

I don't believe that Dobbs was a member of the team when Pickett was taken but if you look back in this thread to before the 2022 draft you will see that myself and many others here said they should roll with Trubisky and Rudolph and build up the offensive line, defensive backfield, etc.

Remember at that time Trubisky had yet to throw a pass for the Steelers and our thought was let's build up the team around Mitch and if he works out then great but if he sucks we will have gotten a better position player in the 2022 draft and likely a top 5-10 pick in the 2023 draft to get a QB.

I know I was disappointed when they didn't go this route and selected Pickett. At this point it is water under the bridge and you have to give Pickett the rest of 2023 to show any improvement to give you hope for the future or whether he is going to continue to suck.

 

[Grid71]

Rooting for Steelers offense to continue making strides against Green Bay. Crank up the aggression meter fellas!

 

[fred_1_15301]

Smoke
And
Mirrors
Lol

 

[Steelers4Life]

Smoke
And
Mirrors
Lol

Outgained by 75 yards, Pickett still looks awful, playmaking WRs are nonexistent, defense gives up 400 yards, and another win lol

 

[crushedspirit]

Refs chipped in with a huge effort. Thanks for the non TD call.

 

[fred_1_15301]

Honestly I don’t know what to say. They should get smoked the next 2 weeks but I’m sure they’ll pull at least on win out their arse. This year is kind of refreshing because I feel like luck is usually against us. Now I just expect this team to find a way to win.

 

[Grid71]

Thursday, Bengals beat the Ravens means winner of Pittsburgh v Cleveland becomes the king of the north

 

[Gold Fox]

Refs chipped in with a huge effort. Thanks for the non TD call.

That was definitely a backwards pass by Pickett. I am still in shock it was not called.

 

[crushedspirit]

Refs chipped in with a huge effort. Thanks for the non TD call.

That was definitely a backwards pass by Pickett. I am still in shock it was not called.

The overhead replay clearly showed the ball travelled back beyond any shadow of a doubt.

 

[3C's]

Another ILB done for the year (likely). ESPN reporting Kwon Alexander has a torn Achilles.

 

[belljr]

Smoke
And
Mirrors
Lol

I'm supposed to be happy, right?

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

Another ILB done for the year (likely). ESPN reporting Kwon Alexander has a torn Achilles.

Ugh. Finally had a strong ILB room and we lose the two that could cover.

 

[pecorino]

Smoke
And
Mirrors
Lol

Outgained by 75 yards, Pickett still looks awful, playmaking WRs are nonexistent, defense gives up 400 yards, and another win lol

I thought it was Pickett’s worst game. The scramble on 3rd down at the end of the game was his best play. Yeesh. He looked indecisive and lost after the first quarter.

 

[Steelers4Life]

Smoke
And
Mirrors
Lol

Outgained by 75 yards, Pickett still looks awful, playmaking WRs are nonexistent, defense gives up 400 yards, and another win lol

I thought it was Pickett’s worst game. The scramble on 3rd down at the end of the game was his best play. Yeesh. He looked indecisive and lost after the first quarter.

He had 14 completions.
9 were either behind or within 3 yards of the line of scrimmage.
3 were between 5 and 10 yards downfield.
2 were beyond 10 yards.
TWO.

 

[Godsbrother]

6-3

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

Neal can play ILB in passing situations maybe.

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

Smoke
And
Mirrors
Lol

Outgained by 75 yards, Pickett still looks awful, playmaking WRs are nonexistent, defense gives up 400 yards, and another win lol

I thought it was Pickett’s worst game. The scramble on 3rd down at the end of the game was his best play. Yeesh. He looked indecisive and lost after the first quarter.

He had 14 completions.
9 were either behind or within 3 yards of the line of scrimmage.
3 were between 5 and 10 yards downfield.
2 were beyond 10 yards.
TWO.

Both rbs averaged over 5ypc and they won.

 

[fred_1_15301]

Smoke
And
Mirrors
Lol

Outgained by 75 yards, Pickett still looks awful, playmaking WRs are nonexistent, defense gives up 400 yards, and another win lol

I thought it was Pickett’s worst game. The scramble on 3rd down at the end of the game was his best play. Yeesh. He looked indecisive and lost after the first quarter.

He had 14 completions.
9 were either behind or within 3 yards of the line of scrimmage.
3 were between 5 and 10 yards downfield.
2 were beyond 10 yards.
TWO.

Both rbs averaged over 5ypc and they won.

Broderick jones is a beast!

 

[3C's]

Neal can play ILB in passing situations maybe.

Miles Killebrew

 

[steelers1080]

Pickett was staring down his first read all game. I'm not sure how he didn't get picked. He was locked in and almost never surveyed the field. Yet another we should have probably lost but pulled out somehow. Kind of reminds me of the 11-0 season where we were by far the worst 11-0 team of all time...

 

[Steelers4Life]

Pickett was staring down his first read all game. I'm not sure how he didn't get picked. He was locked in and almost never surveyed the field. Yet another we should have probably lost but pulled out somehow. Kind of reminds me of the 11-0 season where we were by far the worst 11-0 team of all time...

My buddies and I were just talking about this today. This team is no more of a 6-3 team as that team was an 11-0 team, but at least it keeps things interesting heading into the rest of the divisional matchups. 8 games left, 4 are in the division with 3 on the road, and very winnable games left vs Arizona, New England, and Indianapolis.

That 2020 team collapsed down the stretch when the luck started evening out and suffered an embarrassing home loss to the Browns in the playoffs. No clue if this team will sneak into the playoffs, but that's now 9 straight games getting outgained lol.

Wins are nice and fun. This style can keep them relevant enough in the regular season. But, I keep hoping to see anything that resembles an offense that can have sustainable success, and Pickett looks terrible and isn't showing any growth from what I can tell.

 

[karl.Racki]

ESPN giving Steelers 53% chance to making the playoffs and Dan Graziano ripping them for having a QB ranked 27th in efficiency.. But isn't that how the Steelers are built? Run the ball and play good D sometimes means winning ugly.

He also says he expects them to collapse as they still have 4 games against North opponents, but fail to mention they already have beaten Baltimore and Cleveland.

 

[karl.Racki]

Smoke
And
Mirrors
Lol

Outgained by 75 yards, Pickett still looks awful, playmaking WRs are nonexistent, defense gives up 400 yards, and another win lol

I thought it was Pickett’s worst game. The scramble on 3rd down at the end of the game was his best play. Yeesh. He looked indecisive and lost after the first quarter.

He had 14 completions.
9 were either behind or within 3 yards of the line of scrimmage.
3 were between 5 and 10 yards downfield.
2 were beyond 10 yards.
TWO.

Both rbs averaged over 5ypc and they won.

Yesterday was how they should play.. I know people want Pickett to throw for 400 yards every week, but that just isn't going to happen. He should have 15-20 attempts a week. Steelers should be a far more run first team.

Thought it was actually one of Canada's best called games.

 

[steelers1080]

Smoke
And
Mirrors
Lol

Outgained by 75 yards, Pickett still looks awful, playmaking WRs are nonexistent, defense gives up 400 yards, and another win lol

I thought it was Pickett’s worst game. The scramble on 3rd down at the end of the game was his best play. Yeesh. He looked indecisive and lost after the first quarter.

He had 14 completions.
9 were either behind or within 3 yards of the line of scrimmage.
3 were between 5 and 10 yards downfield.
2 were beyond 10 yards.
TWO.

Both rbs averaged over 5ypc and they won.

Yesterday was how they should play.. I know people want Pickett to throw for 400 yards every week, but that just isn't going to happen. He should have 15-20 attempts a week. Steelers should be a far more run first team.

Thought it was actually one of Canada's best called games.

Low bar. He seemed to regress from last week where he finally started to use the middle of the field more. This week it was back to sideline to sideline with limited chance for YAC.

I think that 2 of Kenny's major issues are still fixable; bailing on the pocket too early and locking into the first read. But his accuracy has been troubling, aside from the 4th quarter. He has shown the ability to be locked on and hit very small targets, but all too frequently throws the ball too high or behind targets, or both.

The lateral today to Warren was terrible, you have to lead the RB.

 

[Godsbrother]

Kenny was definitely locking in on the first read yesterday. Still hoping to see him show improvement in his play but at least he isn't turning the ball over.

I am very concerned with the Kwon Alexander injury. We are beyond the trade deadline so the only help coming is from within or someone else's practice squad. My guess is that Mykal Walker who was picked up a couple of weeks ago.

 

[Steelers4Life]

Smoke
And
Mirrors
Lol

Outgained by 75 yards, Pickett still looks awful, playmaking WRs are nonexistent, defense gives up 400 yards, and another win lol

I thought it was Pickett’s worst game. The scramble on 3rd down at the end of the game was his best play. Yeesh. He looked indecisive and lost after the first quarter.

He had 14 completions.
9 were either behind or within 3 yards of the line of scrimmage.
3 were between 5 and 10 yards downfield.
2 were beyond 10 yards.
TWO.

Both rbs averaged over 5ypc and they won.

Yesterday was how they should play.. I know people want Pickett to throw for 400 yards every week, but that just isn't going to happen. He should have 15-20 attempts a week. Steelers should be a far more run first team.

Thought it was actually one of Canada's best called games.

Low bar. He seemed to regress from last week where he finally started to use the middle of the field more. This week it was back to sideline to sideline with limited chance for YAC.

I think that 2 of Kenny's major issues are still fixable; bailing on the pocket too early and locking into the first read. But his accuracy has been troubling, aside from the 4th quarter. He has shown the ability to be locked on and hit very small targets, but all too frequently throws the ball too high or behind targets, or both.

The lateral today to Warren was terrible, you have to lead the RB.

Yesterday is most definitely not how they should play. Maybe it's how they have to play. If OC or QB limitations are the reason the team is limited in how they're able to play, then they should be replaced. But an approach like this can't work against good teams or especially in the playoffs.

Fact is, Pickett turned 1 good year of college as a red-shirt Senior into being a 1st round pick on his hometown professional team that was desperate for a new QB. That year, Pitt had a strong RB group and Jordan Addison at WR to catch almost half of his completions. Loved Pickett that year and had a blast driving 20 miles down the road to see Pitt win the ACC over Wake Forest. He was just never smart as a 1st round pick and who knows if he can ever develop into anything more than Andy Dalton. I'm not encouraged by anything I've seen so far.

 

[karl.Racki]

Smoke
And
Mirrors
Lol

Outgained by 75 yards, Pickett still looks awful, playmaking WRs are nonexistent, defense gives up 400 yards, and another win lol

I thought it was Pickett’s worst game. The scramble on 3rd down at the end of the game was his best play. Yeesh. He looked indecisive and lost after the first quarter.

He had 14 completions.
9 were either behind or within 3 yards of the line of scrimmage.
3 were between 5 and 10 yards downfield.
2 were beyond 10 yards.
TWO.

Both rbs averaged over 5ypc and they won.

Yesterday was how they should play.. I know people want Pickett to throw for 400 yards every week, but that just isn't going to happen. He should have 15-20 attempts a week. Steelers should be a far more run first team.

Thought it was actually one of Canada's best called games.

Low bar. He seemed to regress from last week where he finally started to use the middle of the field more. This week it was back to sideline to sideline with limited chance for YAC.

I think that 2 of Kenny's major issues are still fixable; bailing on the pocket too early and locking into the first read. But his accuracy has been troubling, aside from the 4th quarter. He has shown the ability to be locked on and hit very small targets, but all too frequently throws the ball too high or behind targets, or both.

The lateral today to Warren was terrible, you have to lead the RB.

Yesterday is most definitely not how they should play. Maybe it's how they have to play. If OC or QB limitations are the reason the team is limited in how they're able to play, then they should be replaced. But an approach like this can't work against good teams or especially in the playoffs.

Fact is, Pickett turned 1 good year of college as a red-shirt Senior into being a 1st round pick on his hometown professional team that was desperate for a new QB. That year, Pitt had a strong RB group and Jordan Addison at WR to catch almost half of his completions. Loved Pickett that year and had a blast driving 20 miles down the road to see Pitt win the Big East over Wake Forest. He was just never smart as a 1st round pick and who knows if he can ever develop into anything more than Andy Dalton. I'm not encouraged by anything I've seen so far.

Yesterday offensive play calling was the way this team should go here on out.. Ran the ball 38 times compared to 23 passes.

On Pickett, you guys just got to accept he is their QB. Is he good, no, but IMO he is manageable under the right offensive schemes. Like I said, yesterday run first is how this team should go.

 

[Godsbrother]

Fact is, Pickett turned 1 good year of college as a red-shirt Senior into being a 1st round pick on his hometown professional team that was desperate for a new QB. That year, Pitt had a strong RB group and Jordan Addison at WR to catch almost half of his completions. Loved Pickett that year and had a blast driving 20 miles down the road to see Pitt win the Big East over Wake Forest. He was just never smart as a 1st round pick and who knows if he can ever develop into anything more than Andy Dalton. I'm not encouraged by anything I've seen so far.

Minor correction: While Pickett did play for Pitt, Pittsburgh is not his hometown. He is from New Jersey